Wrinkly poly

[Sean McEntee]

Got some poly span that is wrinkly and a few hard creases in it. I used some with similar creases in it on my frisky Pete with the hopes that it would straighten out as the finishing process went on. Nothing doing.  Is there anyway to steam or iron the creases and wrinkles out?

Thanks,
Sean

[Mike Griffin]

Sean I have been using PolySpan for years but never had this problem because the source I buy from rolls it on cardboard tubes.  However I would think that once you have it doped around the edges that the heat gun would take them out.  You have probably already tried this though.  The dope layers should tighten it some too.

If you have already done all of this, I don't know what to tell you.

Mike

[wwwarbird]

 I really don't think I'd steam it Sean, I think by doing that you'd prematurely shrink the stuff and then not be able to shrink it once it's on. I've wondered this same thing about Polyspan before though. You might try thoroughly wetting it and then laying it out to dry overnight. I don't know if that routine will shrink it any, and I've never tried it, but I think you'd be safe to at least give it a shot.

[peabody]

I would call Tom Morris...I wager he has more experience with Polyspan than any other CL guy

[Mike Griffin]

Rich has a good idea Sean

Mike

[Sean McEntee]

Copy all.  I actually didn't know about the shrinking part till a couple months ago when I watched one of Sparky's videos. I just pulled it as tight as I could and that alone got everything tight. I'll go ahead and give it a shot with the heat gun. Thanks again and happy holidays!

[Dan McEntee]

    OK, I have never used it yet, but having at least handled the rolls that I do have on hand, I'll make this suggestion. If it has a hard crease, I would try to fold it back 180 degrees on the same crease line and see what happens. Try it on a scrap piece. May want to lay a straight edge on the line. Then apply as per usual, heat shrink and dope. It is a fiber material, and you need to bend the fibers back. A proper application and then heat shrinking should make them disappear.
    MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
    Dad

[RC Storick]

I saw this thread but did want to give my input as you would think I was full of it. Pull it tight as you can around the edges with out heat then use a heat gun to shrink it. They will all come out. There are NO wrinkles "I" cant get out of the stuff.

[wwwarbird]

 If you've never used the heat gun with it before, do, but BE CAREFUL! Polyspan is excellent stuff once you get the hang of it but in my experience there is a very fine line between getting it nice and tight and in the next instant burning yourself a nice big hole. I always turn off a light in the shop and use the "shadowing" technique to keep a real close eye on it while shrinking it with the gun.

 (BTW, as a reference the gun I use is just the cheap Monokote one from Tower and I use the high setting)

[Crist Rigotti]

Here I thought that this thread was about on old aunt I once had. 

[Dan McEntee]

Here I thought that this thread was about on old aunt I once had. 

    That one made me cough up my last cookie! So watery eyed from laughing I can hardly type!
   Type at you later and HAPPY NEW YEAR!
    Dan McEntee

[Sean McEntee]

Here I thought that this thread was about on old aunt I once had. 

LMAO the quote of the year, folks!   

[Crist Rigotti]

It made me laugh too!  Happy New Year guys!

[john e. holliday]

Crist, would have never thought of such a statement from you.   Yes the poly-span will shrink up showing no wrinkles.  But, as stated watch how slow you are with the hot air gun.   Can be patched though just like silk span.  Don't cut a patch, tear it into a circular shape big enough to cover the mishap.

[RC Storick]

tear it into a circular shape big enough to cover the mishap.

You must be really strong. I would not want to mess with you if you can do that.

[john e. holliday]

It's like tearing the old phone book in half,  it's the procedure used.   Maybe you can come and video me when I mess up the next poly-span application.

[Dennis Toth]

One technique that I've seen used is an MonoKote type iron to shrink the poly instead of the heat gun. The iron is pasted over the surface about 1/4" ish off. You can easily control the amount of heat applied to a particular wrinkle to smooth it out.

Best,   DennisT

[Gerald Arana]

I love Poly span. I've found out how to go around corners without any wrinkles.

Do as Sparky says, add pressure and use an IRON (monocoat). On flat surfaces I don't dope over the wrinkle. Just dope to it an 1/8" (on each side) away from the wrinkle, let it dry and apply the IRON and "voila" wrinkle gone. Then proceed your with your doping. 

Jerry

[wwwarbird]

One technique that I've seen used is an MonoKote type iron to shrink the poly instead of the heat gun.

 Great tip Dennis, gonna have to try to remember that one.

[Sean McEntee]

Well here's what I'm dealing with. During my last PCS move the movers "carefully" threw it in a box with a bunch of other stuff. Half the roll looks like this. I'll play with the heat iron trick and see if it will straighten out. Otherwise will just have to order more.

[RC Storick]

Well here's what I'm dealing with. During my last PCS move the movers "carefully" threw it in a box with a bunch of other stuff. Half the roll looks like this. I'll play with the heat iron trick and see if it will straighten out. Otherwise will just have to order more.

Follow my youtube video. This will all come out.

[Sean McEntee]

Does your video come with a money back guarantee? 

I'll give it a shot.  I watched that video last weekend and it was very helpful.  Answered allot of questions and learned some stuff. Thanks Sparky!

[Don Hutchinson AMA5402]

I use a standard steam iron (no water in it) for shrinking Polyspan, the curve of the sole plate gives good contact with the Poly between the ribs and one can select the desired temperature. Such a device is normally available around the house.

[wwwarbird]

 That seems like way too obvious of an idea Don, and also sounds way too easy.

[Sean McEntee]

Yeah, way too easy...and we just can't have that.  We must go buy a bunch of stuff, devise an overly complicated process, call over a half-dozen friends, get a case of beer, take all night....'Murica!   

[Don Hutchinson AMA5402]

Okay, here is your treatise on polyspan. This taken from the Classic Aero booklet on how to cover an Aircraft. Since I am told that Polyspan is just very thin Ceconite (polyester fabric) the following may well help you to smooth out your wrinkles. The key is the temperature of the iron. At 250F, it shrinks about half way, ~ 5%, at 350F it shrinks all the way. Above 350F it begins to permanently loosen!! At at about 450F it begins to melt. Also from the manual, "Can I use a heat gun for this? No. You have no idea what temperature you are applying to the fabric. Therein is the reason I use an iron, not a heat gun!.
You can test on a small piece to see if this works. Set the iron to a low temp creep up on to where you can iron out the wrinkles. Could happen well before the Polyspan shrinks very much, then finish shrinking after you cover the wings.
Thus endeth the lesson for today.
p.s. Ceconite can twist a steel tube structure into a pretzel if too high a temp is used.

[Sean McEntee]

All kidding aside  that is very sound knowledge 

I will be conducting an experiment today. I screwed up the center panel of the wing (can't remember how anymore or why) so I started over. I still got it and will use it to play with the iron and see if these creases will come out.  Stay tuned

[RC Storick]

Dope it in the center and pull it across the wing root to tip and dope it down. Do the same leading to trailing edge hit it with heat and your done. No wrinkles. Pull as tight as you can before using the heat and work out any hard spots with more heat. They all will come out. No doubt in my mind.

Shiny side up!